While in Houston we hit a Goodwill because it's something we both enjoy. He causally mentioned that he was looking for a Big Bertha 3 wood. I'm not a golfer. I'm seeing a bunch on ebay but they talk about shafts and stuff I don't know. Teach me hive. You're my only hope.
I don't know much. We got my son a set of new irons and a driver this year. Had a pro "fit" the clubs for him.
Obviously, right hand or left hand.
Stiffness/Flex: Stiff shaft for a strong golfer, medium for average, senior for those with slower swings.
Shaft weight: 40g. 50g. 60g. Lighter for slow swing speeds, heavier for stronger golfers with high swing speeds.
I honestly thought that you wanted to set your dad up with a lady of "generous proportions"
You have just asked to get a pickup into your dads life. Mini pickup? Cowboy Cadillac? Work truck? Monster Truck?
The Callaway Big Bertha has been around since the 80s. Probably the biggest model name in golf history, unless you count "eye" as a model name.
If there is a right answer here... Ask him for more details, there have been probably 100s of models with a version of that name.
If not...
If he's looking for a classic club, the Big Bertha Warbird, Hawk Eye, and The Great Big Bertha are probably the most iconic and some of the most influential clubs of all time. Still playable today.
Assuming though that he’s in his 70s, he’s probably looking for more distance or control, and therefore more modern.
And there I’m not much help on the specific models but… look up the model names and anything from 2018 (or realistically 2015) or later is going to be pretty close to the current technology.
For shaft, for a guy in his 70s, stay away from steel; stick with graphite.
I would like to say stick with regular shafts, but that depends… is he a former college golfer who still plays every week and chips wood every day? Then he’d be in a stiff shaft. My dad, a former hockey player, still had a 100mph + swing speed into his 60s. That put him on the edge of stiff and extra stiff… and he wasn’t particularly active anymore, though not in bad shape.
On the other hand, if he is swinging like Mr. and Mrs. Havercamp in Caddyshack, get an “A” flex shaft, which is senior flex.
What is your budget? New or used? Do you know what his current setup is and what he’s trying to improve? How far does he hit his driver? Slice draw or straight? Is this going to be hit off the tee or just fairway or both? He meant wood and not hybrid, right?
Ok I've enlisted family up in SC to take a picture of his current golf clubs heads. He's a former collage athlete but not golf. He's played golf for most of his life. I remember on this trip him being disappointed that his game has gone from the low 90s to mid 90s in the last few months. I don't know what that means.
More questions:
Does he specifically want a Big Bertha because it's a Big Bertha? Or specifically a Callaway? To translate it to cars, if he said he wanted a Prius, would he be happy in only a Prius, does he have a generation that he needs, would a CT200h be ok, would any Toyota Hybrid be ok, or would any similar Hybrid be ok?
Does he care what it looks like? Meaning, when he looks down at it at address, does he expect it to have a clean look or is he ok with some design features or choices there?
Does he tinker with clubs?
How often does he play?
How old is he? If you asked him to chop wood, how well would he do?
low 90s to mid 90s means that he just went from usually being in the top 40-50% to being in the 45-55%. Good chance he's getting older and looking for more distance. But just a guess.
budget? New or used?
He's 73. Starting to have issues. Honestly this is so that he has that thing he's been looking for. I assume used so that I can match any others he has unless they are new and then he'll get new. I guess that means the budget answer is no limit?
If budget is not really an issue, take him for a club fitting. Give me a location and I can find someone to recommend.
Too many variables and he plays enough to make it worth it. The shaft may be more important than the club itself so having a fitting would be well worth it. But you're limiting yourself to new.
In reply to mtn :
Naw that's not how I do Christmas. He should be surprised. I doubt he remembers even mentioning it. I don't ask what you want for Christmas. You get something that you really like but don't know how I knew. Now I will tell him afterwards that if he wants to change the shaft or anything we can.
Ah yes, the RCH. So every shot he can say he was off by an RCH.
I have nothing to contribute other than I was wondering why Stampie's dad needs a WWII German railway gun.
You'll need to log in to post.
